Narrator Rating (166)

The Giver of Stars: A Novel

Unabridged Audiobook

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Date: October 2019

Duration: 13 hours 53 minutes

Summary:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK

USA Today's top 100 books to read while stuck at home social distancing

“I’ve been a huge Jojo Moyes fan. Her characters are so compelling. . . It’s such a great narrative about personal strength and really captures how books bring communities together.” –Reese Witherspoon

From the author of Me Before You, set in Depression-era America, a breathtaking story of five extraordinary women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond.

Alice Wright marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve hoping to escape her stifling life in England. But small-town Kentucky quickly proves equally claustrophobic, especially living alongside her overbearing father-in-law. So when a call goes out for a team of women to deliver books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library, Alice signs on enthusiastically.

The leader, and soon Alice's greatest ally, is Margery, a smart-talking, self-sufficient woman who's never asked a man's permission for anything. They will be joined by three other singular women who become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky.

What happens to them--and to the men they love--becomes an unforgettable drama of loyalty, justice, humanity and passion. These heroic women refuse to be cowed by men or by convention. And though they face all kinds of dangers in a landscape that is at times breathtakingly beautiful, at others brutal, they’re committed to their job: bringing books to people who have never had any, arming them with facts that will change their lives.

Based on a true story rooted in America’s past, The Giver of Stars is unparalleled in its scope and epic in its storytelling. Funny, heartbreaking, enthralling, it is destined to become a modern classic--a richly rewarding novel of women’s friendship, of true love, and of what happens when we reach beyond our grasp for the great beyond.

Sharon H.

Ruth S.

A great read. These gals were spectacular! The story line kept you moving on. I loved the end!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Roman M.

Loved it!

Lori S.

I enjoyed the story. Well written.

Deborah C.

I it was a good story and interesting characters with a bit of history. I’m not particularly a fan of romance novels which I would say is the main genre, it was a selection of my bookclub. I found it lacking in authenticity regarding the mountain/country folk in the story narrative and the narrator. The perspective/narration is In third person.
I’m from Western KY and learned about the WPA Pack Horse Library for the first time when I read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson and read by Katie Schorr. I found it to be much more interesting with historical details, (especially learning about the Blue colored people in addition to the WPA Library women) and authentic in the narrative and the narrator. It is classified as Historical Fiction without the Romance designation. It does however have interesting, loving relationships. I also preferred its first person perspective/narration and rated it 5 stars for the story and narrator.

Anonymous

Good book, I was never bored and found the characters interested and believable.

Loren B.

This is one of my favorite books in a long time! Loved the writing. Very descriptive and easy to read. The characters in this book were so special I truly did not want it to end!! I loved the well developed strong female roles portrayed. I highly recommend it!

Pamela M.

Enjoyed! Would recommend!

Chelsea M.

This was a great historical fiction piece. Great development of strong female characters. The story was enrapturing and I couldn’t stop listening. Great narrator.